As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and emotionally manipulative, Mel Migrino, Chair of the Women in Security Alliance Philippines (WISAP) and Country Head of Whoscall Philippines, is calling for a new kind of defense—one rooted not only in technology, but in human discernment, empathy, and female leadership.

Migrino was among the leading voices at the Innovate Her: Israel–Philippines Cybersecurity Brunch, a landmark gathering organized by the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines, the Israel Economic and Trade Mission to the Philippines, the Philippine Chief Information Officer Association (PCIOA), and WISAP. Hosted by Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh at her residence, the event brought together women leaders from technology, business, medicine, and media to address two pressing issues: the Philippines’ growing cybersecurity crisis and the urgent need to increase women’s representation in the field.

A New Era of “Emotion-Engineered Fraud”

For Migrino, the timing of the conversation could not be more critical.

The Philippines continues to rank among the most targeted countries in Southeast Asia for cyberattacks, with scammers increasingly turning to what she describes as “emotion-engineered fraud”—attacks designed not just to exploit technical vulnerabilities, but to manipulate Filipino values such as trust, compassion, and the deeply rooted spirit of bayanihan.

“We aren’t just seeing more attacks,” Migrino said during her address. “We are seeing a new breed of attacker—one who understands Filipino psychology, who exploits our deepest instinct to help, and who uses AI to do it at scale.”

As Country Head of Whoscall Philippines, Migrino has a unique vantage point. The caller ID and scam-blocking platform is trusted by millions of Filipinos to screen fraudulent calls and messages, giving her firsthand insight into how deeply cyber fraud impacts ordinary families.

Discernment as the New Cybersecurity Frontier

Migrino believes cybersecurity can no longer be viewed purely as a technical discipline.

“Cybersecurity today is about discernment,” she said. “It is about the ability to tell the difference between a real cry for help and a deepfake manipulation. It is about the empathy required to design systems that protect the most vulnerable. This is where women don’t just fit in—they lead.”

She draws a compelling parallel between digital security and everyday household management.

“Who notices first when something is wrong in a Filipino home? Who manages the intricate supply chain of a family’s resources? It is the women,” she noted. “And yet, women make up only about 22 percent of our cybersecurity workforce.”

Building a “Chain of Resilience”

As Chair of WISAP, Migrino is working to change that reality.

The organization advocates for stronger female representation across every level of the cybersecurity sector—from technical roles and executive leadership to policymaking and AI governance.

During the Innovate Her event, she introduced what she calls a “Chain of Resilience”—a simple but powerful challenge for every woman leader: actively mentor and elevate at least three other women into the cybersecurity space.

By creating a ripple effect of mentorship and opportunity, Migrino believes the industry can build a stronger and more inclusive talent pipeline.

The Modern Babaylan

In closing, Migrino invoked the image of the Babaylan—the precolonial Filipina spiritual leaders who served as healers, protectors, and mediators within their communities.

“The front line is here,” she said. “The time is now. We are the modern Babaylan.”

In an increasingly complex digital world shaped by deception, AI-driven manipulation, and emotional exploitation, Migrino argues that the Philippines cannot afford to leave some of its most intuitive and capable defenders on the sidelines.

With the global cybersecurity talent gap nearing four million professionals, she believes the solution may already be present.

“The answer has always been in the room,” she insists. “She just needs to be heard.”